Hi! I would like to make an appointment to have a counseling session with my parish priest about some family issues. So my question is must I pay something to the priest if I go to a session? I would hate to go and not knowing if I should pay or not! If I do need to offer something for his time, how much should it be?

Your pastor will consider that being available to parishioners who need guidance about family problems to be part of his vocation. Generally speaking, if you need intensive counselling, he would steer you to a professional counselor, but that depends on the priest, the situation of the parishioner, and so on.

Support for the pastoral work of our priests and other Church workers is why there is a precept of the Church that we contribute regularly and substantially to our parish in particular and the Church in general. That is not to say that the parish has to pick up the tab for a full-time Catholic counsellor, just that a certain amount of spiritual guidance is part of why the parish exists.